Super Smash Quest: Infinity - Story - Chapter 25: Empty Bodies

Mewtwo: "The only one remaining was one meant only to revive Borne. It is in very poor shape and may be lost forever in time. Of course, Anthon Tark has the data on the technology itself, but... He considers us the enemy after that botched kidnapping attempt."

Valentine: "And the same trick isn't going to work."

Mewtwo: "He also appears to be mastering a huge army, to invade the Mushroom Kingdom with."

Kenku: "Why is he doing that?"

King Demon: "Insanity?"

Mewtwo: "Why? He wishes to expand GUN's rule. The Brawlers came at Anthon head-on and were nearly all killed."

Kenku shakes his head. "So much for the GUN of old."

Mewtwo: "Only Borne could restore that, but he's dead. We'd have to do a lot of work to get him back to life. Red Text is also out of the question, after the Metal Man incident, he seems more neutral, and liable to just let Anthon do what he wants, as long as his pet places are untouched and he can continue scanning everyone."

Digifanatic: "Yeah, that'll be tough."

Mewtwo: "Colonel and the Repliforce in turn seem to be waiting for a chance to invade GUN territory. And Jack... doesn't care. He is sitting there, untouched."

Kenku: "That sounds like RT. He only cares if it will cause the planet itself harm."

King Demon: "We need to tip the balance in Alsa?"

Jason: "Well, that figures."

Valentine: "So what are you asking of us, Mewtwo?"

AnonyMan: "I prefer authorities to be peacekeeping as opposed to omnipresent iron fists. That's why I would like Anthon's army stopped short..."

Mewtwo: "That's up to you. Alsa is a very volatile kettle... I do not have any expertise on it."

Kenku: "Of course the question is what can we do. This all seems to be stuff that even the old group never got a serious hold of."

Mewtwo: "All I know is we need something to punch into Evil Wolfman's fortress, before he decides to strike at us again."

Kenku: "I mean, finding the empty husk for Thryne seems the most reasonable option among what I've seen."

Kraela: *Krae just continues leaning against the wall. She didn't have that close of a connection to Alsa, and was willing to let everybody else argue until they figured out what to do.*

Valentine: "We don't have the resources to be in a war. We're barely getting by dealing with Evil Wolfman. So we need to get our soulless first."

King Demon: "Alsa IS a volatile kettle, I'm wondering if we'd be better served tipping it over or turning down the heat there, though."

Mewtwo: "The old Questers lacked the knowledge of how Alsa worked. We have precious little now, but most of it is in the minds of people who left. Those who remain are best at knowing what should be done there."

Digifanatic: *Nods as well.*

Mewtwo: "However, that comes with a caveat. I do not care if Alsa were to catastrophically explode tomorrow. Whatever is done should result in us having an ally or weapon to break into Evil Wolfman's sanctuary with. If the caveat is not followed, well, it will be for naught. Evil Wolfman could take over Alsa if they beat us."

AnonyMan: "Hm... so our current task is to find a husk... a reliable husk... and soon."

Mewtwo: "...Even if he might wind up being killed along with the entire planet as they are all so crazy that they would probably never let one or the other win..." *Mumbled to himself.*

King Demon: "What about Zero?"

Jason: "Personally, I'm not too concerned about Alsa, but if they have their own allies for us, I wouldn't mind saving it."

Valentine: "Yes. Evil Wolfman is the only one lying in wait for all the forces to weaken each other."

Mewtwo: "What about Zero??"

King Demon: "Wouldn't someoen like him or X be a fitting husk for Thryne?"

AnonyMan: "I would give such a suggestion my full support, sir."

Mewtwo: "Except he is alive and has a sentient mind. Not that he has been able to help much in finding his allies."

Mewtwo: "Dr. Light could not seemingly fix him. His systems are in shutdown mode so as to preserve his remaining data."

King Demon: "Oh, yeah, where IS that one, anyway?"

Mewtwo: "We keep searching for the Maverick Hunters of this dimension, but..."

AnonyMan: "Not repair, sir. Replicate."

Mewtwo: "Captain N suggested they might not even exist anymore, a while ago. Replicate, yes, but you see the problem. We can't repair fully living ones, let alone build new ones. Not without some more information on the process. Dr. Light has repeatedly said that X was most likely one of his last works, and even then, he apparently had to spend many years being checked for errors before he could be awakened. Dr. Light could commission a new Reploid, but if not properly tested, it, too, could go rogue, just like the senseless Mad Men nano-bots."

AnonyMan: "Zero would at least be of minor help... and a stepping stone... do you think finding him would be of any merit to this process? And my proposal was to build a husk based on a reploid."

Mewtwo: "Finding him isn't the problem, he's been here. We warped him in a while ago, after he found the Questers. He was covered in seaweed and half dead."

King Demon: "Let me guess, he's in my room, AGAIN."

Mewtwo: "No. He is in Dr. Light's lab."

Digifanatic: "Heh..."

Kaine: "Again?"

Mewtwo: "Dr. Light built a proper lab for himself during the space episodes."

King Demon: *Shrugs.*

AnonyMan: "If he needs a roommate, I'll gladly share." He chuckles.

Mewtwo: "He has nowhere to go, and is still not fully repaired. Our technology cannot restore him like his own would. I'll bring him in, I guess."

Metal Man (GM): Zero walks in. He can walk, and it isn't so desperate as it'd sound... ...but his head crystal is still damaged, and he breathes a bit like a damaged reploid.

Valentine: "We need outside funding. Or a place to gather parts and supplies."

King Demon: "Hello again, Zero."

Kenku: "Sadly outside funding is not something that can be done without getting ourselves tied to someone, even if it is someone as neutral as Carrington. Place isn't a big issue I think, although monetary wise, I could see where your going." *Kenku says before turning and greeiting Zero.*

Digifanatic: *Nods.*

Zero: "..." *He would lean on a chair and compose himself.* "You want MY help? After leaving me to die... over and over again?" *He'd shake his head.* "What is it..."

Mewtwo: "I'm not entirely sure. Someone spoke of making a reploid husk."

Valentine: "...Looks like another pickle. Mewtwo. A word while they speak to Zero."

Zero: "A husk? What are you, Sigma? Reploids aren't... made like that. It's immoral to create those. Didn't you learn from what happened with Schatze?"

Mewtwo: "Schatze?"

Valentine: "What did happen to Schatze?"

Zero: "Red Text made a clone of Panzer using her soulless leftover body, who then gained a deranged personality of its own from being mind controlled by Red Text. It then nearly blew up the planet by causing a premature war with the Time Cops. Reploid bodies acquire sentience, one way or another. Making a husk is only asking for that sentience to be twisted and mad. Gate did something like that with Sigma once, and it too resulted in nothing but terror."

AnonyMan: "You and X have such a strong sense of justice, though... that is why I wanted..."

King Demon: "This isn't the same Panzer that currently IS a Time Cop, is it?"

Jason: "That figures."

Digifanatic: *Nods* "Guess we'll have to find flesh and bone then."

Zero: "She wasn't a Time Cop back then. And the body was possessed by Red Text, whose hatred of Time Cops became warped into insanity. What do you want this 'husk' for, anyway?"

Kraela: "To house a being of indescribable power."

AnonyMan: "We need to give the Nullus a body, a reliable body, to defend ourselves from Evil Wolfman."

Kaine: "What she said." *Nods to Kraela.*

Kenku: "Who wants to smash the dude that might destroy Alsa if we let him."

Zero: "If you want to talk to some sort of data that has no body, then build a robotic body. Don't risk anoth..." *He trails off.* "Are you mad? The Zero Virus got started the same way. You'd be bargaining with darkness itself. I won't have any part of it. It could easily become the next Sigma."

Valentine: "Sadly we have little choice."

Zero: "Every time anyone revives something like that, suddenly all the weaker reploids became its slave and wars broke out, destroying everything."

AnonyMan: "I figured since you and X are so responsible and justified... the proper programming would give it that same personality you two have..." *He looks down again.* "I'm sorry, sir Zero. I did not mean to upset you."

Zero: "...Well, you at least give me respect, so I won't hold this against you." *He points to Anonyman.* "I haven't seen a sane reploid in years. Panzer resurrected Colonel and created a franken-Repliforce, made up of ghosts of past reploids. They plot to this day to become the new Mavericks."

Valentine: "Flesh and bone would work best. A male one as requested as well."

Digifanatic: "Oooof."

Zero: "Yes, keep to the bodies you know of and can control."

Kraela: "Sexist bastard."

Kenku: "That's all good and such Val, but do you know where we could get one that isn't you know... dead?"

Zero: "Reploids aren't toys to be used like that." *He angrily sighs, and stomps off.*

Mewtwo: "Well..."

AnonyMan: "I was based off the old Robot Masters sir, using an integration of Netnavi technology, including my memory banks to prevent a breakdown... but that's the point. Thank you, sir."

Mewtwo: "An empty body isn't as hard as you might think to get."

Kenku: "Really?"

Mewtwo: "It just requires a few morbid questions..."

King Demon: "Does it even have to be alive? I'm pretty sure that Thryne can heal up whatever damage has been done to it."

Mewtwo: "Dracula used his energies to revive himself, time and time again, in new bodies."

Jason: "Huh."

Mewtwo: "So, we ask Simon Belmont."

Metal Man (GM): Simon Belmont wanders in.

Digifanatic: *Snickers a bit.*

AnonyMan: "I was an authority figure, sir. A morbid question was on par with a celebrity interview back in my early days."

Kenku: "Healing damage and pulling a body back from decomposition to me are two very different things."

Simon Belmont: "Oooooh! That robot has hair almost as good as mine!"

Metal Man (GM): Zero shoots Simon Belmont a murderous look as he walks into another room.

King Demon: *Sighs* "Hello, Simon."

Kenku looks rather confused about who that walked in.

Metal Man (GM): Kenku would see a man with hideous, upright blonde hair, aviator goggles, a scarf, a brown jacket and pants, and boots, and a goofy, Jay Leno-chinned like face. And also a whip.

Simon Belmont: "So why did you make noises in my mind, Mewtwooo?"

Mewtwo: "Dracula came to life over and over again. How could we make it so someone else came to life instead?"

Valentine: "We saved Simon so he should be more friendly towards us."

Simon Belmont: "Dracula? Where? Ahhhhh!!!" *Leaps behind a chair.*

Mewtwo: *Facepalm* "Didn't you kill him?"

Simon Belmont: "Yes, but... what if Evil Wolfman made him into a robot, too?"

AnonyMan: "Not here, pull yourself together!" *Ahem*

Mewtwo: "We defeated him countless times."

Simon Belmont: "Oh, right..."

Metal Man (GM): He stands up, still looking nervous.

King Demon: *Sighs* "At least it wasn't Mother Brain..."

Simon Belmont: "Well... I don't really know how he came back to life, you know! MOTHER BRAIN? AHHHHH!!!"

AnonyMan: "I've had experience with the reconstructed undead, don't worry..."

Metal Man (GM): He goes and hides under a lampshade.

Digifanatic: *FACEPALM!*

Jason: *Wince.*

Kaine: *Starts laughing.*

Mewtwo: "...Please don't mention his old foes to him. I think the hair bleaching went to his brain."

Mewtwo: "If it were that simple, we would all have over 99 lives and just defeat Evil Wolfman through trial and error."

Simon Belmont: "...You've got me there... there has to be a catch. You have to find what world he belongs to first."

Mewtwo: "Alsa."

Simon Belmont: "And... who was his enemy?"

Mewtwo: "Dyne?"

Simon Belmont: "So one of his 'extra lives'... had to be left over from where he fought Dyne's forces."

Mewtwo: "This is a completely insane, impossible idea."

Metal Man (GM): He turns to the Questers/Brawlers.

Mewtwo: "...Couldn't hurt to figure out where that is and take a look."

Valentine: "I say we look into it."

Simon Belmont: "See? I knew I'd be able to help!"

King Demon: "Sure!"

Mewtwo: "Bowser, Sigma, Dr. Wily, Rapula, Ed Glukkon, Zio, Kuja!"

Digifanatic: "Yeah."

Jason: "Mm-hmm."

Simon Belmont: "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

AnonyMan: "I've never experienced these 'extra lives' he speaks of, though I have been rebooted a number of times from memory..."

Metal Man (GM): Simon Belmont runs away screaming.

Valentine: "If it doesn't work we'll just go to Link's world and take a re-dead."

Kaine: "You probably could have done that by just showing him a pair of scissors."

Simon Belmont: *From the hallway* "Oh no! Not Cut man!"

Kaine: "Yes, Cutman!"

Simon Belmont: "EEK!" *Vanishes into his room.*

Mewtwo: "I think he dreads his hair being cut. So... Alsa. All we need to do is figure out where on Alsa. Who on Alsa knows about the Mad Men, magic, Dyne, and possibly Thryne?"

Valentine: "Jack."

Kaine: *Bursts out laughing again.*

AnonyMan: "I suppose we don't have a history book anywhere?"

Jason: "That would probably be too convenient."

Kenku: "Marley as well if he will still talk to us."

King Demon: *Nods* "Jack'd be the only one with the knowledge and the lack of hatred to be of any help."

Mewtwo: "The magic history books only seem to care about spells. Jack... well, it's worth a try. We can warp you to Jack's Chicago Downer to see what he knows."

Kenku: "Least on the Magic standpoint."

Valentine: "Just no starting fights with him."

Digifanatic: "I don't think Marley will cut any slack with us anymore."

Kenku: "As I've heard..."

Kaine: "Yeah, he didn't like it when I took his drink from him last time."

Mewtwo: "Marley might be of help, if you do something to make him not hate you. I don't know."

Metal Man (GM): He opens the door outside, to the warp, a healthy red.

Jason: "That and all the other dirt he throws around on you guys."

Valentine: "He will be our next one."

Mewtwo: "There's the warp. If you don't find anything, just come back and we'll try elsewhere."

Jason: "Hmm... since he knows you guys better, I think I might stay behind on this one."

King Demon: "This'll be fun."

Valentine: "I don't think it matters. But I think he got along with that one ninja we use to have. sadly he is our enemy now."

AnonyMan: "I'm ready for any trouble. After you, I'll take the rear."

Kaine: "Yeah, enjoy yourselves."

King Demon: *Heads for DA WARP.*

Valentine: *Hovers into the warp.*

Digifanatic: *Follows.*

Metal Man (GM): You warp on over to Jack's Chicago Downer. The bar is larger now. There's even a small semblance of a town around it. The front facade of the building has a large Stargate SG-1 puddle jumper smashed into it... on purpose... and still lit up too. There's a bouncer out front too, a man with a bald head and big fists.

King Demon: *Looking at the jumper* "Well, THAT looks familiar..."

Valentine: "I see Jack's tastes is still the same."

King Demon: *Heads for the bar.*

Kraela follows after Demon.

Metal Man (GM): You head for the bar. The tall man with the bald head looks at you.

Kenku follows after the others.

???: "Hello, welcome to the Chicago Downer. Please tell me why you are here, or I will perform impromptu surgery on youuuu!"

Kenku: "We need to talk to the Bar Owner."

King Demon: "Right... We're here to talk to Jack."

Digifanatic: *Nods.*

???: "Everyone does, but can you prove you know him? What is... the other part of his name?"

Digifanatic: "...the Widowmaker."

???: "Awww... another chance for practice ruined."

Metal Man (GM): He steps to the side, gesturing for you to enter.

Valentine: "Another time." *She would hover in.*

Kenku decides to quickly step in.

Digifanatic: "Thank you, sir." *Takes the walk in.*

Kraela goes in, glaring at the bouncer on her way past.

King Demon: "Thank ya, sir." *Nods and enters.*

Metal Man (GM): You'd walk in, and see a pretty rockin' bar. With solid gold countertops and barstools. And lots of fancy people here. And stairs that go up in the center, around a scale model of the original GUN tower.

Kenku tries to find a seat at the bar.

Valentine: "It would seem like Jack is making a bit of money."

Metal Man (GM): You can also see Echidna Pyramids painted on the walls with authentic-looking hieroglyphs and various guns of Alsa on the walls.

King Demon: *Looks around for Jack, figuring he's PROBABLY upstairs.*

Metal Man (GM): Kenku would see the bar is pretty jammed up. He'd have to wait a bit.

Kenku looks for a table then.

Kraela: "I think I prefer the bar you work at, Demon."

Metal Man (GM): Demon would see through the glass floor that is near the stairs... yes, upstairs is labeled 'Jack's Den' and has ANOTHER bouncer at it. Kenku would find a table all right. Not just any table--one in the shape of a GUN Airship. The chairs are converted seats from a GUN mecha pilot seat.

Kenku chuckles a little and takes a seat before looking for a waiter.

Valentine: "I'll keep a look out for anything out of place. Ian, assist Demon."

Metal Man (GM): A waitress wearing a fancy red leather getup would idly drop a tall mug of water before Kenku before continuing on. The table has a touchscreen ordering system.

Digifanatic: *Nods and follows Demon.*

Metal Man (GM): The GUN ship table has room for 6 people. The ale comes in 31 flavors. It also says, "Baskin and Robin's Lawyers Will Be Shot On Sight"

King Demon: *Heading upstairs to the bouncer.*

Metal Man (GM): Demon would head upstairs, and see... a guitar player for a bouncer.

Kenku flips through the touchscreen system looking to for a hearty root beer if available, and a hot pretzel.

Valentine was looking for anyone she might know, or anyone that seemed out of place in here.

Metal Man (GM): With slicked back greasy black hair. And sunglasses that are blue.

King Demon: "Friend of Jason's, you think?"

Metal Man (GM): He'd see you coming and begin strumming some tune.

Kenku would also look to see if there is some sort of "Other request line."

???: "Yo man, what you dogz got up here? Only serious duuudes get up here!"

King Demon: "We'd like to speak to Jack, if we can."

Kraela waits at the bottom of the stairs, listening in on the conversation.

Metal Man (GM): Kenku would see that there is a 'Special Request' menu, although it has a subtitle. "No drugs Jack himself has not used at one point or another, And this is NOT A Red Light district, for the LAST time!"

???: "Jack? Man... you dudes are serious! Let's see."

Metal Man (GM): He yells over to Jack.

???: "Hey Jack! A bunch of oddly dressed guys are here to see you!"

Jack: "Let them in."

???: "Sure thang, duude."

Metal Man (GM): He lets you walk upstairs.

Kenku lets out a hard laugh, and then sees the others starting to walk off. He cancels the order and follows shortly.

King Demon: "Thanks." *Up da steps.*

Metal Man (GM): The upstairs people would see some other interesting tables, including one in the shape of a miniature Stargate, and another one made out of TF2 dispensers, with mini-turret chairs. That one is empty due to people worrying the chairs will activate and shoot them.

Digifanatic: *Follows Demon up* "Wow, this is like a museum of everything we've come across."

Valentine shortly joins the group.

Metal Man (GM): Marley is passed out, surrounded by five different beers, sitting on an accurate model of Garrick's table, with only one chair--an Eggman ship chair. It has a sign over him. 'MARLEY DEPRESSION BOOZING IN PROCESS--DO NOT DISTURB'

Metal Man (GM): The others upstairs would walk around upstairs and see Jack's special booth.

Valentine: "..." *Makes a note to kidnap Marley when they leave.*

Metal Man (GM): It's built to resemble his gold castle. The chairs are of diamond, and it has an elaborate chandelier with his initials in it. Old copies of the 'Jack Times' calling the Questers evil and/or misguided have been preserved in the walls around it. Also, the Obituary of Borne is there. Jack also has a bunch of ancient Echidna artifacts around him, and three televisions. He is busy switching through them, as they all have PIP.

King Demon: *Notices the "Evil Questers" headlines* "Gee, thanks..."

Valentine: "Seems like you left an impression. Again."

Metal Man (GM): His dirty boots are on the table, getting mud on the diamond top.

Valentine: "Funding would be nice, but not our business for right now."

Jack: "I decided to expand my bar. So many useful relics I can just mount to the walls to draw in customers."

Digifanatic: "I noticed, it looks quite nice."

Jack: "You would be amazed at how many people have decided this is a museum and I've begun to charge for tours of all the artifacts. And there's still more than what you see here... eventually this bar will be ten floors high, if this keeps up."

Kenku: "A reasonable venture I would say."

Jack: "My old golden castle is now just a resort. Too boring."

Valentine: "Enough of the artifacts. We need some information."

Jack: "Information? Well... I guess I could sell you some. What do you need to know?"

Kenku: "You know of anyway to build a body to put a soul in?"

Digifanatic: "Yeah, looking for some help on advanced magic."

Metal Man (GM): Jack is delivered a fried turkey by a converted evil PSO-robot. He begins eating a massive fried turkey drumstick while talking to you.

Jack: "Well..." *Mph* "Advanced magic... souls... Mmmmm..."

Valentine: "Ugh. we're suppose to be asking about Dyne first."

Jack: "What kind? There's more tham... mmmph... one way to make a live. Didn't you guys... er... get a way to... live again?"

King Demon: "Uh, yeah, we're trying to find the location of a major battle between Dyne and... some other guy."

Jack: "Ya should know, I'm practically Dyne's reincarnation... without th' stupid religions stuff. Gold is my temple, diamond my altar. Well..." *He'd look to the wall above him, then take his staff from its hooks on the wall.* "I can tell ye who Dyne fought named with a T for 100 coins, then where for 300 more. If you want another depth of data, just ask."

Metal Man (GM): Jack finishes a large portion of the Turkey while waiting--he eats like a monster.

King Demon: *Shrugs* "We just heard a rumor that something may have been left behind at the battle site. If it's true, we just want that, anything else is all yours."

Valentine: "Anything within reason."

Jack: "So 500 more coins for what you want left behind, if you'll tell me that. That's... going to be 900 coins total." *He pushes a button on the table that makes a cash register noise.* "Life was much easier when I installed that button."

King Demon: "... You already raided the battlefield?"

Valentine: "You act surprised."

Kraela: "Any chance you'll be looking for another bouncer soon?"

Jack: "The memories of Dyne are in me, and I know what's there. Whether or not I took everything from it... that'd cost you another 100 coins to find out. Wha... Dr. Baldhead and Mr. Staccato are good enough for now. Maybe when I add that third floor."

Kenku sighs. "Well who's paying how much. I'm fine with making a good cut. Not like Im really using the cash anyway."

King Demon: "Well crap, we forgot to ask what we're looking for looks like."

Digifanatic: *Sighs* "Not me, I've got to pay Kraela back..."

Jack: "I can figure that out, for another 300 coins."

Valentine: "I see." *Valentine just hands over the total amount.*

Jack: "It just requires reading your mind." *He shrugs.*

King Demon: "I can pay... nothing, I guess..."

Metal Man (GM): 900 if they know what they want, or 1200 if they need to have him read their mind to figure that out too. Giving him 1200, Val?

Valentine: *Thanks Ian for having so much. So yes.*

Jack: "Who-ooo! Big time score. Mr. Dreadful, weld these coins into another block for my wall of Gold I Acquired For the Questers!"

Metal Man (GM): The robot walks over, nods, and takes them.

Jack: "Now, let's find this object here."

Kraela smiles slightly. She liked his style.

Jack: "What do you want... hmmm... Demon, do you mind if I poke you with this almost-ten-foot-pole?"

Valentine: "He doesn't."

King Demon: "I'd prefer you don't, but whatever."

Metal Man (GM): He pokes Demon. Demon would relive the meeting with Mewtwo earlier today in an instant, then feel drained and fall over. Hitting his head on the table for 10 damage while he was at it.

Jack: "Never gets old."

Valentine: "Enough with wasting time, Jack."

Jack: "So you want... Extra Lives? What kind of person calls life energy that? Hey, it was he who wasted your time. He should have remembered it." *He'd stand up and walk on the table, getting huge bootprints on it, then walk across the room, to a map of Alsa.*

King Demon: "Ugh... Dammit, next time TELL a guy when you're going to do that!"

Metal Man (GM): A butler robot would clean the table.

Jack: "It's more fun this way."

Valentine: "Anyways."

Metal Man (GM): He then energizes the staff and points it at the map.

Digifanatic: *Rolls his eyes.*

King Demon: *Gets up shaking his head.*

Jack: "Now to find you the battlefield of Thryne and Dyne! ...Their names SUCKED."

Digifanatic: "Eh..."

Jack: "If any of you name your hideously deformed mutant children that, I will kill you for child abuse. Just so you know."

Kenku snerks.

Jack: "Let's see..."

Valentine: "It is a show tune, but that's beside the point."

Digifanatic: *Chuckles...*

Metal Man (GM): He looks at the map. The spear spins around, pointing at random places. It then closes in on... 'Random GUN base'

King Demon: "Thryne, that's it... ugh..."

Jack: "Oh... goodie! It's right where Borne built a huge GUN base. Which is now in the hands of a geriatric maniac."

Jack: "It cursed the land, causing it to always cause military bases to be built there."

Digifanatic: "Huh..."

Jack: "I fought Eggman there back the first time around. He had his main base there. Now I know why. There's a pool of cursed energy in the very center of it. It apparently can be used to power machines... ooorrrr... Revive Thryne and once again have a demonic village-destroying lunatic walk among us again! ...I like your taste. So, all you have to do is go to the center of that base, and steal this."

Valentine: "Is does seem to be the Quester's specialty."

Metal Man (GM): He shows a twisted pillar made of dark obsidian.

King Demon: "Oh, no problem, then... who's the old guy who runs it?"

Jack: "Reunite that with Thryne's soul and not only will he live, but he will have his original body back. Anthon Tark, your best friend."

Kraela: "We only tried to kidnap him and sell him off to unknown elements."

Jack: "He's a man after my own heart, but he's a bit insane. That's why it's a bad thing he isn't dead."

King Demon: "We can fix that later, if needed."

Digifanatic: "Yeah, it'd be nice to finally find a way to cut him down."

Jack: "The base is, naturally, heavily guarded. Every base built in that spot is. I didn't know now, but apparently Thryne's energy does that to places."

Valentine: "Do keep in mind he almost killed the others."

Kenku: "Actually that leave a question. In your opinion will Thyme do as he promised if we do bring him back?"

King Demon: "They don't want to lose the power they have."

Jack: "So... unless you want to hire me to help you, that's all I can do for you. Yes. But there is a catch."

King Demon: "Always is."

Jack: "Pay me 1000 coins and I will tell you it. Since my memories have me personally interrogating his men, before melting them or transmuting them into statues. Don't worry, most of his men were evil. Most of them."

Kenku looks at his coin purse with a groan.

Jack: "Just like mine!"

Kenku: "I can't cover that... you guys call."

Kraela: "I'm guessing that a thousand coins worth of labor won't do it?"

Jack: "Labor, well, back when, before you were so wealthy, you were good servants..."

King Demon: "Us? Wealthy? When did THIS happen?"

Valentine: "What exactly will you tell us for 1000 coins?"

Jack: "Yes, perhaps if you bring me Boris, I can get to work on rebuilding those devices Trevor was making to destroy entire cities. What the catch is to Thryne's help."

King Demon: "And where is Boris?"

Jack: "I'll tell you, for 100 coins."

Kenku: "Why would you want to rebuild that?"

Metal Man (GM): This is becoming rather expensive.

Jack: "I was thinking I could destroy various GUN cities when I got bored."

King Demon: "Hey, we get Boris for you, you give us the catch to Thryne for free."

Jack: "Just like old times."

Kraela almost giggles. Almost.

Jack: "Well, okay. Boris is on an island of evil, surrounded by heinous darkness."

King Demon: "So he's on our old base."

Jack: "Koholint Island. Now known as Dark Ax Murderer Abyss."

Kraela: "Imaginative."

Jack: "Something went wrong after he reverse-engineered Deloth's powers... Turned people into crazy monsters."

Valentine: "Compared to what we have to deal with that seems normal."

Jack: "I think he also encountered the remnants of Zant. Just a hunch. Bring him here so I can use his brain to create a superweapon and I will, yes, tell you the key to Thryne's little deal."

Valentine: "Sounds cheaper. It's a deal then."

Kenku: "Anything we could do for half?"

King Demon: "That works."

Digifanatic: "Hmm. I could probably work with that."

Valentine: "If you want to do things for half, work for Metal Man."

Jack: "Half a person doesn't really sound like a good deal."

Digifanatic: *Chuckles.*

Jack: "Metal Man might go for that kind of thing."

Kraela: "Crazy monster island, here we come. For a thousand dollars worth of labor. I wish all of our missions were so simple."

Kenku gets a quick grasp of the tree with his claws and tries to look around to gauge his surroundings.

Metal Man (GM): When he asks about what happened to the others, Jack would insist 'They're still discussing what to do next.' Even if he isn't fooled by the ruse... he'd have to wait for now. :p

Valentine uses the height of the tree to help her scan around the area.

Kraela looks down to make sure she isn't going to land in anything she shouldn't.

Metal Man (GM): The deadly Island of Deathly Deathliness has a little town.

Digifanatic: *Looks around as well, trying to get an idea of the size of the island.*

Metal Man (GM): The ground consists of dead grass. The island is pretty large, larger than Manhattan anyway. The town is full of burnt down buildings.

Kenku slowly climbs down the tree if it looks semi-safe.

Metal Man (GM): To the south, one can see a lab--from atop the tree. The way south however is a bit dangerous. The only path there is patrolled by weird beings with masks, that walk on four legs. And have laser guns on their heads.

Digifanatic: "Yeah, looks like we gotta go through a bit of a mess first, but he should be there."

Metal Man (GM): Four of the masked beings patrol ruined fences and stuff. There's a straight path, but they're all walking through there.

King Demon: *Checks them, timing them to see if it's possible to get through without being seen.*

Metal Man (GM): Iffy. You'd have to be very sneaky to get past all of them.

Valentine: "I'll be cover support."

Metal Man (GM): They walk around with irregular patterns, sometimes sweeping in circles at random.

Digifanatic: *Mumbling* "If we can snipe, we'd be in good shape."

King Demon: "Great... think they're tough?"

Valentine: "See how smart they are as well. You could distract them somehow."

King Demon: *Looks for other ways down, like off the trail.*

Metal Man (GM): They look kinda tough. They got laser beams on their heads too, which is excessive.

Valentine: "Like me?" *Showing off her Time Cop Rifle.*

Metal Man (GM): There's a bunch of trees that way, with a saltwater swamp filled with poisonous purple water.

Valentine: "If you get in trouble I will use it. But until then I'll keep watch."

Digifanatic: *M* "Yeah, you'd definitely count if necessary."

Valentine: *And without another word she goes back to climbing the tree they arrived on.*

King Demon: "Charge in and hope for the best, then?"

Kenku looks for a large rock.

Metal Man (GM): Kenku finds a large pot and a small rock.

Kenku picks up the rock and ties to cast it into the water off to the left of the robots to see how they would react to the splash.

King Demon: *Starts prepping a fireball.*

Valentine looks for the best angle with the most cover to hide in case she has to shoot one of them. *In the tree she's in that is.*

Metal Man (GM): They look to the splash, then calculate where the splashing rock came from, then use some algorithm to aim at Kenku's hand! Dodge check, Kenku. Enemy red laser.

King Demon: "So much for THAT!"

Digifanatic: "Yeah, I'd say so."

Metal Man (GM): TSEER 35 damage. The four of them then cause a force field to box you in, and then they run at you on all fours! TWILIGHT BATTLE!

Metal Man (GM): Order: Freaks with Laser Beams, Kenku, Kraela, Val, Demon Freaks With Laser Beams The Freaks with Laser Beams run in to range, whooping loudly. One of them decides to try a WWE wrestling move on Kenku. It does a spinebuster and smashes Kenku into the ground for 150 damage. Two other ones then whoop loudly and go to jump up and down on him. 65 damage per hit... he rolls away. The final one then shoots two more laser beams at him! 35 damage a hit from lasers, if any hit. Also I am playing this endlessly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CaBHg3E1Zw&feature=related (Suspicious Cook - GG Sound Complete Box). The things seem to consider Kenku their most hated enemy for what he did. They continue to all be ganging up around him.

Kenku doesn't like his position decides to just try to put a major hole in one.

Metal Man (GM): Major hit! Wild miss!

Kenku tries to catch himself as he swings wildly and sets for upcoming (final +1 to ref as I go OoC... EoT)

Metal Man (GM): Flash slice misses. From Kraela. Yes.

Kraela: *She looks at her sadly bloodless blade and swings it around on top of the nearest monster.*

Metal Man (GM): You hit the nearest one, which is luckily also the one which was wounded earlier... It disintegrates into dark dust and is dead.

Kraela: *She then uses her last TP to defend herself against a retaliation.*

Valentine: *And up from the tree, the sniper takes action by aiming down at one of the Laser headed freaks.*

Metal Man (GM): Hit. It groans from the hit. Anything else?

Valentine: *And a quick reload for one more shot.*

Metal Man (GM): BOOM! HEADSHOT! It dies, headshotted into oblivion.

Valentine: *That will end her turn as she uses the tree for cover. EoT.*

Metal Man (GM): One hit, one miss.

King Demon: *Defends for 2 TP, EoT.*

Metal Man (GM): Freaks with Laser Beams One fires lasers at Val from afar. Man, they have long range too! Hm. Well, had you asked before you rolled, I'd note it and you could use it, but right now it's only useful for the next time you're shot at... Were you going for full on cover or just defensive stance? Cover: You have to spend a move next turn to get out of cover and be able to attack back. But they won't be able to hit you. Defensive stance: A bonus based on how much TP you spent defending.

Valentine: *Oh. Got it. I'll take it them.*

Metal Man (GM): Ok... 35 damage from each.

Valentine: *Hurting but still alive.*

Metal Man (GM): The other one takes out its rage on Demon, trying to pick up Demon. Very interesting... Dodge, Demon! Dodge Demon Dodge! Demon dodges, while the beat suplexes a tree instead.

Kenku steps back out of the dangerous position hes in and tries to strike the first as he moves.

Metal Man (GM): The monster does the Matrix dodge animation and several backflips, while shooting lasers. Because it's cooler that way. I have never seen that combination of wackiness either... If Kraela isn't back, I think I'll brb myself, to start some dinner... Well, she's still behind one of them. Mr. Matrix Machine (the damaged one) is now facing you.

Kraela swings her halberd for a cleave.

Metal Man (GM): Hit, hit.

Kraela: *And then, just for the heck of it, she does it again.*

Metal Man (GM): It dies, a mess of evil dust. Then Kraela hits the other one twice and then drops her weapon. Only one bleeding monster remains.

Valentine: *Time to take care of it. Another shot rings out from the tree.*

Metal Man (GM): BAM It disintegrates, leaving the way ahead open. And also dropping its laser gun. The only one which didn't just explode.

Kenku stumbles for a moment as he places a hand to his chest and tries to heal himself (Minor Heal x6 if there is time).

King Demon: *Picks up the gun and puts it away.*

Valentine hops down again. "Looks like that couldn't be helped."

Kraela goes to fetch her halberd.

Metal Man (GM): You fetch it, easily. The gun is a Level 2 weapon, adds Piercing and Overpower, as well as +1 damage. Ranged. Up ahead is the laboratory, which is ringed with evil energy.

Valentine: "Pick the best marksman for that, Demon." *And she would hover forward a little bit to check out the area before she decides its safe to go forward.*

King Demon: "Yeah." *M* "Or sell it to the highest bidder."

Metal Man (GM): You see up ahead, nothing in the way but ruined fences (ergo ones that can't block you) and the lab, which has a path that walks right up to its... heavily armored door.

Valentine: *She would scan the door however, seeing if there was a device connected to it somewhere else.*

Metal Man (GM): There is, in fact, a wireless terminal on the door, which you could even talk to. It appears to operate more like a wireless door.

Valentine: "An island full of darkness and that never crossed your mind. Oh, there it is." *Goes up to the remote.*

King Demon: "No, but if he's not imprisoned, he's running things, and if he's running things, we should be quiet about doing this."

Valentine: "I suggest a two team breach."

Kenku: "Fair enough." *Kenku says as he steps back and waits for someone to access the terminal.*

Metal Man (GM): You can contact it to try and open the door.

King Demon: "Going to open it?"

Valentine: "Going to hide so you can ambush if someone comes running out?"

King Demon: "For once, that's not a bad idea..." *Heads into the forest, pulling out the gun he'd just acquired.*

Kenku: "Would prefer the hackmaster open it in truth. Ambush would not be a bad thing."

King Demon: "..."

Valentine: "Just hide and quit talking, or stand there for target practice."

King Demon: "Actually, you're the sniper, YOU hide!"

Kraela stands to the side. She's gotten kind of used to these situations. It was almost enough to make her want to learn something about technology.

King Demon: "I'll open it."

Kenku shrugs and backs into cover for the time being.

Valentine: "Can you hack?"

King Demon: "Not well..."

Valentine: "Cover me then."

Digifanatic: *After scoping the battle from afar, he reunites with the others.*

King Demon: *Sighs* "Right." *Gets ready to shoot anything that's not a Quester.*

Kenku: "You know I was talking about Ian, but if you want to take a go that's your call."

Digifanatic: "Heh, let's see here..." *Walks up to the door.*

Valentine: "Ian. Lazy as usual."

King Demon: "And you wanted him to lead." *Smirks.*

Digifanatic: .oO(Val, for once I didn't want to get blasted by mooks...)

Valentine: "Take over. And don't screw it up." *And she goes to take cover in the treeline.*

Digifanatic: *Nods and checks out the terminal.*

King Demon: *Covers Ian, watching his blind side.*

Digifanatic: "Hmm..." *Takes out his Digivice and the Lappy, looking to bypass the terminal.*

Metal Man (GM): The door opens up without a hitch. Inside, is a lab of some sort.

Kraela: "Good job, Ian."

Digifanatic: *Smiles as he pockets his tools, nodding to Kraela and walking in.*

Kenku steps out of the cover and follows Digi in.

King Demon: *Puts the gun away, pulling the sword back out and heads in.*

Valentine: *Just hovers in.*

Kraela: *Krae just walks in.*

Metal Man (GM): You walk right in. The door then shuts right down behind you.

Kraela: "Well, that's a good sign."

Metal Man (GM): And then, walking out to greet you... Is Trevelyan?!

Trevelyan: "Hah. You fools. You came here for nothing."

King Demon: "Ok, THAT'S not Boris..."

Digifanatic: "...Nope."

Trevelyan: "I have the power of the antimatter beam, the Darkness of this area, and soon, I will use Deloth's teleportation power to level Central City."

King Demon: *Shrugs* "Go ahead, I don't give a damn about that. We aren't here for you anyway."

Valentine: "Sounds in our favor."

Trevelyan: "Good. Boris, I... killed him. He betrayed me, you see."

Kraela: "Do you have his body?"

Trevelyan: "I am going to revive my faction soon enough, once I figure out how to get rid of Jack. Oh... no. I incinerated him with my lasers. And my lightning gun! Nothing remains." *He takes out a pen and begins clicking it.* "Like that. Gone."

King Demon: "Careful, you might blow something up with that." *Smirks.*

Kraela: "Hm. Well, I'm bored."

Valentine: "I call Jack's desk."

Digifanatic: *Nods.*

Trevelyan: "So, you can be on your way, because I am busy."

Metal Man (GM): He opens the door for you to leave.

Valentine: "Where is Boris' remains?"

Digifanatic: "He just said there are no remains."

Trevelyan: "I incinerated him. Nothing remains."

King Demon: *Starts heading for the door* "I call his gold wall."

Digifanatic: .oO(Course, he could be bluffing.)

Kenku shakes his head and starts to head out, heading back to the tree.

Trevelyan: "It appears he was not as INVINCIBELL as he thought."

Metal Man (GM): He clicks the pen, moving it between his fingers.

Digifanatic: *Sighs and walks out.*

Valentine: "...Or you could be Boris."

King Demon: "Actually, wait a second..." *Pulls out the gun, firing it at Trevelyan.*

Metal Man (GM): You fire at him...

Digifanatic: *pause* .oO(That is his accent...)

Metal Man (GM): You hit him and something wavers for a moment. Then he turns invisible!

King Demon: *Puts the gun back away and pulls his sword back out, ready for a fight.*

Digifanatic: *Turns around.*

Kraela: *Krae points her halberd out in the strange man's general direction.* "Could that have been a hologram?"

King Demon: *Searches the room, looking for anything that'd give away the location of their target.*

Metal Man (GM): Hm... Demon would notice a patch of wall which appears to be moving!

Valentine: "Isn't not invisible. It's fast. Very fast."

Digifanatic: *Nods in acknowledgement.*

Metal Man (GM): Demon would still be seeing the patch of wall, however.

King Demon: *Pulls the gun out and fires at the wall.*

Kenku tries to mumble "Moving in any sort of pattern?"

Kraela: *Krae's eyes go to where Demon fired.*

Digifanatic: *Holds an index finger to Kenku, deciding to take a look at the walls himself.*

Metal Man (GM): BAM Val would realize her sensors had been fooled.

Valentine: *Meanwhile, Val would look around the area for anything else.*

Metal Man (GM): The wall would bust and so would appear... Boris, wearing a mask faced like Deloth's face!

Boris: "Well well, I guess I couldn't fool you. It is of no matter though... I have more than enough power to KEEL YOU ALLL... ...unless you just wanted to talk to me."

Valentine: "...Talk first."

Boris: "Wise choice. I can transmogriphy into anything I want, then warp around, and I have the guns I made for that fool Trevelyan. I may look like a Geek but with this mask, I AAAAM EEENVENCIBELLL!!!"

King Demon: "Right..."

Boris: "So... what is it?"

Kraela: "We're looking for an empty husk. Any ideas?"

Valentine: "Oh for... Yeah. Because asking for soulless bodies is an ice breaker at any party."

Boris: "Really?"

King Demon: *Shrugs* "Hey, if he's got one handy..."

Kraela: "Yeah, really."

Boris: "Ha ha ha... you ask me."

Valentine: "So it seems."

Boris: "I control the dark magic left over when Zant died. Bodies are mine to animate and de-animate as I please. This, too, is why I am no longer the weak geek I once was!"

Boris: "I would charge you, but it was you who granted me this immensely powerful mask. It's a fair trade if you leave me alone after this, da?"

Valentine: "Yes."

Digifanatic: "Sounds good to me."

King Demon: "Fine, long as you don't bother us, we won't have much reason to come bug you."

Boris: "Then I will create this evil abomination for you. All the more to show how working with me is the best way to go!"

Metal Man (GM): He morphs into Zant. Then he holds out his hands and chants evil, dark words. Skull, bones, various bits of dead stuff come together to form a dead body... which then becomes some sort of completely 'alive' body, only in a continuous coma.

Valentine: "Just so you Questers know, its best to not mention the deal here."

Metal Man (GM): A man, with black hair, and a scar on his nose.

Boris: "There. Go now, and never return. I must resume burning down the houses to the north!"

Kraela: "Alright, then. Thanks."

King Demon: "Have fun with that, Boris."

Valentine: "Actually, there is a GUN base that claims it can't destroy. If you're interested."

Boris: "That land is too difficult to conquer. Trevor tried it and died! I am infinitely more smart than him!"

King Demon: "Who said anything about conquering it? just blow the damn base to hell!"

Metal Man (GM): He turns back to normal, and leaves you to your demonically-summoned body and... warping back.

Boris: "Just touching that continent is stupid."

Valentine: "If it's too much for you then I'll be on my way then."

King Demon: *Shrugs* "Have fun with your small time destruction then." *Heads for the warp.*

Kraela: *Krae shoulders the body and goes into the warp.*

Digifanatic: *Warps.*

Metal Man (GM): You warp... back into Jack's bar, on the second floor even.

Kraela: "Hey, Jack. Miss us?"

Jack: "So..." *The coma'd body falls out and he stares at it.* "What is this, hmmm?"

Metal Man (GM): Yes, Linkshot. You could go up and rejoin the others now.

Jack: "I thought I was going to tell you the catch to reviving Thryne. Of course, you can do it without my knowledge... No sweat off of my back!"

Kraela: "Turns out that Boris was wiped out. We managed to bargain for this, though."

Valentine: "I though we were one short. Ian. You're no longer the laziest one."

AnonyMan: "I was assuming you would return to regroup..."

King Demon: *Stands near the doorway.*

Valentine: "And your plan worked. We'll be taking our leave, Jack."

Digifanatic: *Chuckles at Val's comment.*

Jack: "Boris was killed? Hm. Well, if you say so. But you'll still have to pay 7000 coins if you want to know what Thryne's hitch is."

Kraela: "It was 1000."

Jack: "The special sale has ended... so sorry."

Metal Man (GM): He chuckles.

Valentine: "No need."

Kenku sighs and walks out the door.

Jack: "Or you can find it out the Quester way. Just don't forget to come back and have a drink afterwards!"

Kraela: "One more thing, then, Widowmaker. My name is Kraela Thorn. When you're looking for another bouncer, look me up."

Valentine: "But we could sell you information on what he found out what happened to Boris. And his project."

Jack: "Well, I guess I can consider you..." *He chuckles.* "I can find out what happened to Boris myself. I used to roam the world, after all. And he's in an undefended zone. My mercenary price was just waaaay out of your league."

Valentine: "Yes. Keep thinking that."

Jack: "10,000 coins... nobody has that money except the richest."

King Demon: "Have fun then. We're going to be going now. Have a good day, Jack."

Valentine: "Have fun with your empire." *And she hovers off.*

Kraela: "Talk to you later," *she says, adjusting the weight on her shoulder as she turns around to leave awkwardly.*

King Demon: "You need help with that, Krae?"

Kraela: "It'd be nice."

AnonyMan: "I'll get the legs."

Kraela: "I'd be fine if I could use both hands, actually. Just take the weapon."

Jack: "Sayanora, Questers."

Digifanatic: "Yyyyyuuuuuuuup."

Metal Man (GM): He goes back to his table, and begins drinking some weird colored grog.

King Demon: *Takes Krae's weapon for her, since it's what she offered.*

Mewtwo: "Today, it is time for yet another exciting Stadium battle, this time at night. At Dreamland, the classic arena."

Metal Man (GM): The crowd cheers.

Mewtwo: "And for today the commentator will be..."

Metal Man (GM): The microphone is gripped by Jack, who is wearing obnoxious sunglasses and a 10-gallon hat.

Jack: "Me, Jack the Widowmaker. By the way, if you go to Alsa, go to Jack's Chicago Downer. It's the best bar in all the multiverses." *He makes a shiny smile and glances at the Quester/Brawler segment of the stands.*

Jason: .oO(Oh great, him again.)

Jack: "In the red corner is Ian 'Digifanatic' Hoffman, master of computers and losing to King Demon!"

Jack: "In the red corner is Jason 'Not Ian 'Digifanatic' Hoffman' Berlitz, that guy who I've never met before... ...maybe I did, I don't know... ...And in the blue corner is Kraela, prospective bouncer for the Chicago Downer and all around cool people-slaying person!"

Jason: "Better."

Kraela: "Much."

Jack: "Today we have a boring, old arena, with our modern HD Rendered super-holographic arena technology! And the fighters are arriving on the field now..."

Metal Man (GM): You can post your entrances now--SSB style.

Jason: *Launches in from the side of the stage, his synthesizer under his feet as if he's riding on a snowboard--he leaps off of it in the nick of time, sticking the landing and strapping it onto his shoulders.*

King Demon: "Great, who let HIM into the box?"

Kaine: *Shrugs.*

Metal Man (GM): Locations are E and G. Jason on E, and Kraela on G.

Kraela, by contrast, appears in her place without any flair at all. Actually, if you hadn't been paying attention, one might assume that she's been there the whole time.

Jason: "Plenty of time, girl." *Sighs, dropping down to A. All TP spent.*

Metal Man (GM): Kraela's turn. Note that to hit him, you must drop down, as he is too far away for Ranged attacks. Yes, that is one movement. Moving straight down is also one movement, so it's just a choice of where you want to be. Just note it when you go to attack or beforehand so the logs know.

Kraela drops down to C and immediately uses a flash slice to close the distance between them.

Digifanatic: *He's at A, though, so that might not threaten him.*

Metal Man (GM): If you are adjacent, you are in-range. So she would threaten A with it, being next to it.

Kraela: *I was not adjacent when I started the attack. And actually, it's them both at A now.*

Jason: *So that would threaten him.*

Kraela: *Her movement attack moves her two places.*

Metal Man (GM): Whether the attack threatens depends whether it closes the gap--it does, since it moves Kraela not only to B (where it'd still threaten) but now right into Jason's face.

Jason: *But he dodges.*

Jack: "Kraela moves closer, but Jason moves out of the way."

Metal Man (GM): Anything else?

Kraela: *She uses a hook to finish her turn.*

Jason: *Easy hit.*

Jack: "Jason gets hooked in the face! That's gotta hurt! And the first hit, too!"

Metal Man (GM): The crowd cheers some. Status Check. Here, you note your current/max HP, and what space you're on. And status effects, yeah. It occurs when it ends--at the beginning of Kraela's next turn. Same for targeted, unfortunately. If you don't have 2 in a status effect it won't last in a 1-on-1. However if you use the targeting move first, THEN another move... You can grab it before it vanishes. Wispy Woods turns to face the two of you.* Jason's turn.

Jason: *Moves to B (4 TP), quickly turning around and charging a Sonic Slingshot, firing it on Kraela from behind!*

Jack: "Jason moves around and quickly hits Kraela in the back! That creep!"

Kraela: "Doing better." *She turns around and uses a flash slice to be behind him.*

Jack: "And Kraela just moves to get behind Digi--er, Jason!"

Digifanatic: *One RES on that bleeding.*

Metal Man (GM): Yes, you only moved behind him--you get the bonus on this attack.

Digifanatic: *Actually, I'll hold off on the bleed. Confirming to save it.*

Metal Man (GM): One of the advantages of movement attacks: Sort of like how you can move around and Fox Illusion people up.

Kraela: *Then she pulls yet another hook.*

Jason: *Swerve!*

Metal Man (GM): They also get to turn around if you miss them, of course.

Jack: "And a swing and a miss. Unfortunate."

Kaine: "Hit him, Krae!"

King Demon: "Come on, Jason!"

Metal Man (GM): Anything else?

Kraela: *She uses two TP to guard. End turn.*

Metal Man (GM): Status Check. Wispy Woods begins blowing to the right. A and B are effected--it will take one more movement than usual to jump up or move to the right for those on those tiles. And one less to move to the left. Also, anyone hit on those tiles will be moved to the left one.*

Digifanatic: *So, if Jason wants to go from B to E, that takes one movement, since he's moving up and left?*

Metal Man (GM): It'd just take the one to go up, then the wind would blow you to E. Jason's turn.

Jack: "The big tree is blowing a gale of wind... let's see if that does anything..."

Jason: *He moves to E in that case, firing another Toccata and Fugue shot at Kraela from E.*

King Demon: "Ooh, your girlfriend is hit, Kaine!"

Kaine: "She's my ex, genius, and she's not done yet."

Jason: *EOT.*

Jack: "And Jason gets a score! With some music I really do not adore!"

Metal Man (GM): Kraela's turn. Also, I believe that puts you below 50% HP, Kraela. Further hits will push you back one. That would make you a total of 4 tiles away.

Kraela: *She moves to D and guards again. End turn.*

Metal Man (GM): In case you are wondering, I do not divide stuff to figure out diagonal distance, but add up the total vertical and horizontal distance. Status Check. Whispy Woods stops blowing air. Jason's turn.

Jack: "Krae has something in mind as she moves to avoid more horrible old people music..."

Jason: *Screw Kraela's position! He has Higher Range!*

Metal Man (GM): But does he use it?

Jason: *Smirks, charging up Sonic Slingshot for 1 TP and firing at her.*

Metal Man (GM): It would require 2 SP to dodge that one.

Jack: "A partial shielding weakens the damage, but Kraela is still knocked back a bit!"

Jason: "Hmm..." *Defends for his max which is 2 TP.*

Metal Man (GM): Kraela is knocked off the side of the platform. She will need to use one movement to get back on. Although had Jason wanted to attack, he'd need an even higher range attack to hit her, as Higher Range only adds one more tile in matches. Kraela's turn. Naturally you can note that here, Krae.

Jack: "Some sort of slingshot made of sound shoves Krae off the stage... but she should be able to get back up."

Kraela: *She scrambles onto the platform again and moves forward until she reaches C, then she protects herself yet again. Hopefully it'll actually work this time. End Turn.*

Jack: "And Jason is in the lead... ...if only he was foolish enough to challenge me, then I could teach him to attack people with old people music."

Jason: *Drops down to A, defending for 2 more TP EOT.*

Metal Man (GM): Kraela's turn. Yes. C to A is easy.

Kraela: *She flash slices him for a third and, sadly, final time. She needed to wreck him now.*

Metal Man (GM): Diabolos, the other name for Ignobios, the dice demon, appears to have struck again.

Kraela: *She uses her position to go for another hook.*

Metal Man (GM): Well, you can't reroll for missing the bonus, unfortunately. And it seems the dice demon wishes you to die. Alas. Let's see Jason's dodge, however, to be sure. Hm, eh.... You can spend 2 SP to make it hit him, if you wish. Oh right.

Kraela: *And now, facing him, she pulls out the hook suddenly and brings the blade down on his head.*

Digifanatic: *1 SP!*

Metal Man (GM): Matching that with SP, or no? Of course, you may need SP to survive whatever he does-- 'k.

Jack: "And Jason follows it up by blurring out of the way. Darn."

Jason: *Exhales* "Almost got it." *Smirk.*

Kraela: "I'll break you yet, hon."

Kaine: "Hey, she hit him!"

Metal Man (GM): Status Check

King Demon: "Yeah, but he's still winning, I think..."

Metal Man (GM): Wispy Woods' blowing powers now threaten C and D, effecting their movement the same way like I said before. One movement off the arena if you were hit with 50% HP or less. Otherwise not. Jason's turn.

Jason: *And he moves back to B, hitting her from behind with... a kick? Okay.*

Jack: "So we move to the next round... who will win? Mr. McMusic or the stab attacker?"

Jack: "Looks like Jason could use a workout before he tries hitting on women."

Metal Man (GM): Kraela's turn.

Kraela: "Look at this, I don't even need to move." *She swings her hook at him.*

Digifanatic: *That'll either be 1 or 2 RES points. We'll have to see.*

Kaine: "Oooh, that's going to leave a mark, Demon."

King Demon: "It might."

Digifanatic: *One to remove Targeted.*

Kraela narrows her eyes as Jason dodges just enough to avoid getting impaled on her weapon, and goes ahead to use a regular cleave.

Digifanatic: *Sigh.*

Jack: "It's bloody murder as Jason gets hit!"

Jason: *Well, 2nd RES point to halve the damage.*

Metal Man (GM): Since, RES or none, he got knocked below a while ago, and two hit him... He takes 10. Round down. Ah. What you take. He would have, but you can combo hitting them before they fly off. Buuut at the cost of them only flying from the one attack... Unless they're so damaged they fly two. Then they just fly away. No way you can hit them as they fly away like that. Due to combo hit, then, Jason only moves one to the right. So he's at C, prevented from going to D by being hit in-flight. Yes... but it's a tradeoff, I'm not playing it entirely by Melee's rules. In there, hitting them mid-air would just fling them further. But that wouldn't be the most fun here, lest you just combo people off the stage with four 2-TP moves. Status Check. Of course, I forgot. Digi is knocked into C just as Wispy Wood finishes... close one. Jason's turn. Note that Jason is below 75%, so further hits knock him 2 tiles.

Jason: *Goes for another Toccata and Fugue blast at Kraela, picking up where he left off, contently firing from C. And he moves back to D, EOT.*

Jack: "And the horrible music knocks Kraela back!"

Metal Man (GM): Kraela's turn. One movement to just get back on yonder platform.

Kraela: *She climbs back onto the platform and moves to B before getting into a defensive stance and ending her turn as well.*

Metal Man (GM): Status Check. Wispy Woods is unable to determine which way to face. He does nothing. Both Kraela and not-Digi are in the 2-unit range. Ouch!

Jason: *A sly idea! He charges Sonic Slingshot one more TP and lets it rip!*

Digifanatic: *1 SP to make her roll for it.*

Jack: "And here comes another Sonic miss! Boom!"

Digifanatic: *Okay, he misses... but you're out of range to counterattack! >:D Say I use Sonic Slingshot and I miss. Kraela gets an Enemy Counterattack, but she can't reach me with one action. What happens?*

Kraela: *She moves to C, ignoring the missed blast of sound.*

Jason: *He still has 4 TP left... but tries to play it safe, defending for 2 TP EOT.*

Metal Man (GM): Kraela's turn.

Jack: "It's near the end. I'm on the edge of my seat! When will someone die?"

Kraela: *She swings with her hook, trying to deliver the finishing blow.*

Digifanatic: *Last SP!*

Metal Man (GM): 0 HP is still alive. And he is launched 2 movements away. Actually he can get back on the stage, using his entire turn. It's 3 to fly to your death sideways on this stage. ...Or that.

Metal Man (GM): Jack walks up to the two of you... and goes to shake both of your hands.

Jack: "Good fight. As much as I called you names, not-Digifanatic, you did well... ...then lost it."

Jason: "But I suppose you've had it going your way lately. You helped Ian out with his new toy and now you took me." *Shake.*

Jack: "So... Mewtwo told me to be happy for the money you made, and to prepare for your next mission, when it comes tomorrow."

Metal Man (GM): He then bows, and turns to the crowd.

Jason: "Ah, alright."

Jack: "And this is Jack, signing out. G'bye, folks!"

Metal Man (GM): He warps out with some Echidna magic.

Kraela: "He's helping us with missions now? Should I be worried?"

Jason: "Got nothing."

Metal Man (GM): +2 EXP to Jason, Kraela; +1 EXP to Kaine, +0 EXP to Demon (Questers already have a bunch, no need to give them more unless they're the ones fighting) *The crowd would file out, another nice packed house for this evening match. You do, everyone who appeared in this session. So yes, even if you are a Quester, you can get SP just for watching. But... you have to be there.

Metal Man (GM): ...I forgot to change my nickname back, but that's fine, as I'll have to search and replace it back anyway.

Editor's Note: Thanks a lot, past me. I had to replace all of that manually. BLARGHT!

Metal Man (GM): Yes, it is very useful.

Kaine: *Comes up to Krae and pats her on the back* "Good job!"

Kraela: "Thanks, Kaine. I thought I heard you rooting for me."

Jason: "She fought pretty well, hung in there."

Kaine: *Smirks* "Of course!"

King Demon: "Yeah, she's obviously tougher than she looks."

Jason: "Definitely."

Kraela: "Haven't I been proving that since day one?"

Kaine: "True." *Nudges her.*

Jason: *Nods* "You have!"

Kraela: "That's more like it. Now, my legs are killing me, so I'm going to go home to soak them for an hour or two. And Jason, you owe me dinner after tomorrow's mission, kay?"